Naturally, Ning Chen was thrilled to see his three women.

They hadn't seen each other in ages!

It wasn't just the three of them who'd been pining. If he hadn't been so busy, he'd have gone back to Xuanwu City long ago.

"Come on, let's talk inside!"

Ning Chen took Yudie by the hand, and the Ninth Princess and Zisu followed.

On the way in, Ning Chen glanced up. Xie Siyu was on the roof, striking a cool, dashing pose. "Brother Xie, want to come down for a cup of tea?"

Xie Siyu said coolly, "Not thirsty!"

Ning Chen: "..."

"Then be careful. It rained last night, and it's slippery up there. Don't fall off!"

With that, he led the three women into his room.

The Ninth Princess clasped her hands behind her back and took a turn around the room. "This is where you handle state business?"

Ning Chen nodded.

The Ninth Princess muttered, "It's way too small. You're the emperor now... This place isn't even as big as my Fallen Phoenix Court."

Ning Chen looked at her, amused. "I grabbed the throne right out from under you Zhangs, and you don't seem to mind one bit?"

The Ninth Princess gave a sweet laugh. "Father Emperor gave you the throne. What's there for me to mind? Besides... I married you, so of course it's marry a rooster, follow the rooster; marry a dog, follow the dog!"

Ning Chen's mouth twitched. Then he pulled her over, sat her down in a chair and asked, dead serious, "Do you want to be emperor?"

The Ninth Princess stared at him, stunned.

Yudie and Zisu looked just as shocked.

The Ninth Princess reached out a small hand and felt Ning Chen's forehead, then her own. "No fever," she muttered. "So why are you talking nonsense?"

Ning Chen said with a perfectly straight face, "I mean it. I've wanted to ask you for a long time. I just never got the chance!"

In fact, ever since he'd received the Xuan Emperor's proclamation calling him back to the Great Xuan to take the throne, his…